YORK City will face a familiar foe when they travel to Grays Athletic tomorrow.

Former Minsterman Stuart Elliott, who left KitKat Crescent for the Essex club, won his place back in the team last month after being sidelined by a hernia injury in November and then transfer-listed by former manager Wayne Burnett in the New Year.

Elliott, who was missing during Grays’ 1-0 away victory over Martin Foyle’s men in December, has been playing at right-back recently but was also pushed into midfield during the second half of Tuesday night’s 0-0 home draw with Rushden.

Despite only starting 18 games this season, the combative 31-year-old was shown his tenth yellow card of the campaign in that match but will only begin a two-match ban after facing City.

Grays, who have used 50 different players this season under four different mangers in chairman Micky Woodward, Burnett, captain Jamie Stuart and current chief Gary Phillips, are expected to keep faith with the side that shared the spoils against Rushden & Diamonds.

Defender Rob Gier will be available despite receiving a call-up to the Philippine national squad but he failed to make the 16-man squad for Rushden in any case.

No side in the bottom ten has won more home games in the Blue Square Premier with Grays enjoying eight Recreation Ground triumphs but only Woking (31) and Lewes (22) have scored fewer league goals than the two-time FA Trophy winners’ 36.

Former Barnet midfielder Barry Cogan is the top scorer on but he has not found the net in seven matches.


Match facts

City are unbeaten in their three League visits to Grays.

In 2005/6 Andy Bishop was the scorer in a 1-1 draw and the following season this fixture ended goal-less.

Last term, City won 2-0 with Onome Sodje and Stuart Elliott on the scoresheet and had Mark Robinson and Richard Brodie sent off.

The line-up on September 22, 2007 was: Henderson, Purkiss, McGurk, Kelly, Robinson, Sodje (Craddock), Panther, Elliott, Wroe (Brayson), Woolford, Beardsley (Brodie).

It happend on April 4

1953: A 1-1 draw at Gateshead with Billy Fenton the scorer and City were eighth in Division Three North.

1955: Arthur Bottom, Norman Wilkinson and Billy Fenton were the marksmen in a 3-2 win at Bradford City. It was the the fourth successive victory and City had moved up to fourth in the Northern Section.

1969: Bobby Sibbald netted twice in a 3-1 home win over Port Vale. Archie Taylor was the other marksman and City were in the lower reaches of Division Four. The attendance for this Good Friday fixture was 4,999.

1994: Steve Bushell and Ian Blackstone netted in a 2-1 win over Blackpool at Bootham Crescent in front of 5,740 and City were fifth in Division Two (League One). It was the eighth game without defeat (six wins/two draws).

1995: Hull City were beaten 3-1 at Bootham Crescent with Paul Baker (2) and Graeme Murty the scorers.

Compiled by Dave Batters